System and method for rendering interactive aerial volumetric graphics and generating spatial audio using femtosecond lasers

Abstract

A plasma generator including: a femtosecond light source that generates a laser pulse beam; a processor that computes a computer generated hologram; a spatial light modulator that modifies the laser pulse beam in accordance with the computer generated hologram; a three dimensional scanner optically coupled to the spatial light modulator to direct the modified laser pulse beam to one or more focal points in air; and a lens that focuses the modified laser pulse beam. The modified laser pulse beam induces a light emission effect at a one or more focal points that can be visible, audible, and palpable.

We claim: 
     
       1. A plasma generator comprising:
 a femtosecond light source that generates a laser pulse beam; 
 a processor that computes a computer generated hologram, said computer generated hologram including phase modulation values; 
 a spatial light modulator that modifies said laser pulse beam using said phase modulation values to generate simultaneously addressed multiple voxels; 
 a three dimensional scanner comprising a galvano scanner and a varifocal lens, the three dimensional scanner directing the modified laser pulse beam to one or more focal points in air; and 
 a fixed objective lens that focuses the modified laser pulse beam directed by said three dimensional scanner to generate an aerial tactile image pattern, wherein said fixed objective lens is disposed between said varifocal lens and said aerial tactile image pattern. 
 
     
     
       2. The plasma generator of  claim 1 , wherein the modified laser pulse beam induces a light emission effect at one or more focal points. 
     
     
       3. The plasma generator of  claim 2 , further comprising a sensor that detects a change in brightness of said light emission effect. 
     
     
       4. The plasma generator of  claim 1 , wherein the modified laser pulse beam generates a palpable light field at said one or more focal points. 
     
     
       5. The plasma generator of  claim 4 , further comprising an ultrasonic phased array that generates a palpable acoustic field at said one or more focal points. 
     
     
       6. The plasma generator of  claim 4 , further comprising one or more ultrasonic phased arrays that generate a palpable acoustic field surrounding said one or more focal points. 
     
     
       7. A method of generating plasma, comprising:
 generating a femtosecond laser pulse beam; 
 computing a computer generated hologram, said computer generated hologram including phase modulation values; 
 modifying said femtosecond laser pulse beam using said computed phase modulation values to generate simultaneously addressed multiple voxels; 
 directing said modified laser pulse beam to one or more focal points in air using a three dimensional scanner comprising a galvano scanner and a varifocal lens; and 
 focusing the directed laser pulse beam to generate a tactile image without moving a lens that is closest to the tactile image. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of focusing said modified laser pulse beam to induce a light emission effect at said one or more focal points. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of detecting a change in brightness of said light emission effect. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of using the detected change as an input selection. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of inducing said light emission effects at a rate sufficient to generate persistence of vision. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of determining a new set of one or more focal points that is adjacent to said one or more focal points. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of generating a palpable light field at said one or more focal points. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of generating ultrasonic acoustic radiation pressure at said one or more focal points. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising the step of generating ultrasonic acoustic radiation pressure around said one or more focal points. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of directing a sequence of said one or more modified laser pulse beams at said one or more focal points to induce light emission effects that create sound waves. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sound waves are in the audible frequency range. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sound waves are in the ultrasonic frequency range. 
     
     
       19. A method of generating plasma, comprising:
 generating a plurality of femtosecond laser pulse beams; 
 computing a computer generated hologram, said computer generated hologram including phase modulation values; 
 modifying said plurality of femtosecond laser pulse beams using said computed phase modulation values to generate simultaneously addressed multiple voxels; 
 directing said plurality of modified femtosecond laser pulse beams, alternately, to two or more focal points in air using a throe dimensional scanner comprising a galvano scanner and a varifocal lens; and 
 providing a fixed objective lens that focuses the directed laser pulse beams to generate an aerial tactile image pattern, wherein said fixed objective lens is disposed closest to the aerial tactile image pattern. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein said two or more focal points comprise a palpable tactile pattern. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of generating ultrasonic acoustic radiation pressure near said two or more focal points.